Spinal implants and instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9931226-B2
Application number	US-201414538136-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2014
Priority date	Nov 11, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

An intervertebral spacer inserter includes a sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a hollow sleeve bore extending through the sleeve along the longitudinal axis, a sleeve tip end and an opening of a passage disposed in the sleeve tip end. The passage extends into the sleeve to the sleeve shaft along a passage axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle less than about 90°. A sliding tip with an elongated slot is in contact with the sleeve tip end and is moveable with respect to the sleeve tip end between a first position with the opening accessible through the elongated slot and disposed adjacent a first end of the elongated slot and a second position with the opening accessible through the elongated slot and disposed adjacent a second end of the elongated slot opposite the first end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An intervertebral spacer inserter comprising:
a sleeve comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
a hollow sleeve bore extending through the sleeve along the longitudinal axis;
a sleeve tip end; and
an opening of a passage disposed in the sleeve tip end, the passage extending into the sleeve to a sleeve shaft along a passage axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle less than about 90°; and

a sliding tip comprising an elongated slot, a first tang at a first end, a second tang at a second end, and a length between the first and second tangs, the sliding tip in contact with the sleeve tip end and moveable with respect to the sleeve tip end between a first position with the opening accessible through the elongated slot and disposed adjacent the first end of the elongated slot and a second position with the opening accessible through the elongated slot and disposed adjacent the second end of the elongated slot opposite the first end, wherein the length between the first and second tangs is the same at the first position and at the second position.

2. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 1 , wherein the sliding tip further comprises:
a first face in contact with the sleeve tip end; and
a second face opposite the first face, the elongated slot passing completely through the sliding tip from the first face to the second face.

3. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve tip end further comprises a flat surface disposed in a plane perpendicular to the passage axis, the opening disposed in the flat surface and the first face in contact with the flat surface.

4. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first alignment mechanism disposed between the flat surface and the first face to hold the sliding tip in the first position; and
a second alignment mechanism separate from the first alignment mechanism and disposed between the flat surface and the first face to hold the sliding tip in the second position.

5. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 4 , wherein:
the first alignment mechanism comprises:
a first recess disposed in the first face;
a first cavity disposed in the flat surface; and
a first spring loaded ball plunger disposed in the first cavity and biased outward from the first cavity toward the first face, the first spring loaded ball plunger engaging the first recess when the sliding tip is in the first position; and

the second alignment mechanism comprises:
a second recess disposed in the first face;
a second cavity disposed in the flat surface; and
a second spring loaded ball plunger disposed in the second cavity and biased outward from the second cavity toward the first face, the second spring loaded ball plunger engaging the second recess when the sliding tip is in the second position.

6. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 3 , wherein:
the first face comprises a channel having a bottom surface;
the sleeve tip end extends into the channel; and
the flat surface is in contact with the bottom surface of the channel.

7. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 6 , wherein the channel comprises a dove tail shaped cross section.

8. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 1 , wherein:
the elongated slot comprises a midpoint between the first end and the second end;
the opening is accessible through the elongated slot between the midpoint and the first end when the sliding tip is in the first position; and
the opening is accessible through the elongated slot between the midpoint and the second end when the sliding tip is in the second position.

9. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 8 , wherein the sliding tip further comprises:
a first edge; and
a second edge disposed opposite the first edge and defining a length between the first and second edges, the elongated slot aligned parallel to the length between the first and second edges.

10. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 9 , wherein the first and second tangs extend from the sliding tip away from the sleeve tip end, the first and second tangs disposed at each of the first edge and the second edge of the sliding tip, respectively.

11. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive shaft rotatably disposed in the hollow sleeve bore and comprising a distal end disposed adjacent the sleeve tip end; and
a connection tip rotatably disposed in the passage and in contact with the distal end of the drive shaft, the connection tip comprising a threaded end extending through the opening and the elongated slot.

12. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 11 , wherein:
the distal end of the drive shaft comprises a ball; and
the connection tip further comprises a socket end opposite the threaded end, the ball engaged in the socket end.

13. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 11 , wherein the drive shaft further comprises an enlarged knobbed wheel disposed adjacent a proximal end opposite the distal end, the enlarge knobbed wheel accessible through the sleeve.

14. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 1 , wherein the angle comprises about 15°.

15. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 1 , wherein the angle is adjustable up to about 90°.

16. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 1 , further comprising a slap handle attached to the sleeve at a handle end opposite the sleeve tip end.

17. An intervertebral spacer inserter comprising:
a sleeve comprising:
a sleeve tip end; and
a connection tip extending out from the sleeve tip end; and

a sliding tip comprising an elongated slot, a first tang at a first end, a second tang at a second end, and a length between the first and second tangs, the connection tip extending through the elongated slot, the sliding tip in contact with the sleeve tip end and moveable with respect to the sleeve tip end between a first position with the connection tip disposed adjacent the first end of the elongated slot and a second position with connection tip disposed adjacent the second end of the elongated slot opposite the first end, wherein the length between the first and second tangs is the same at the first position and at the second position.

18. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 17 , wherein:
the elongated slot comprises a midpoint between the first end and the second end;
the connection tip is disposed between the midpoint and the first end when the sliding tip is in the first position; and
the connection tip is disposed between the midpoint and the second end when the sliding tip is in the second position.

19. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 17 , wherein:
the sliding tip further comprises:
a first face in contact with the sleeve tip end; and
a second face opposite the first face, the elongated slot passing completely through the sliding tip from the first face to the second face;
the sleeve tip end further comprises a flat surface, the first face in contact with the flat surface; and
the intervertebral spacer inserter further comprises:
a first alignment mechanism disposed between the flat surface and the first face to hold the sliding tip in the first position; and
a second alignment mechanism separate from the first alignment mechanism and disposed between the flat surface and the first face to hold the sliding tip in the second position.

20. The intervertebral spacer inserter of claim 19 , wherein:
the first alignment mechanism comprises:
a first recess disposed in the first

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Kurtaliaj Iden
• Gahman Kevin
• Glerum Chad
• Matthews John
• Cahill Douglas
• Morris Ross
• Myers Scott
• Zweizig Michael
• Nolan Patrick J
• Murray Patrick
• Michna Victoria
• Muzumdar Aditya
• Ingalhalikar Aditya

Classifications

• A61F2002/30708

  Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices, Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts · CPC title

• A61F2002/4629

  connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection · CPC title

• A61F2002/30505

  spring biased · CPC title

• A61B17/88

  Osteosynthesis instruments;} Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal {or external} fixation devices {(A61B17/7074 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F2/4611 Primary

  of spinal prostheses · CPC title